May: ‘Robust Discussions’ With EU Leaders in Brexit Negotiations

Getty Images14 Dec 2018

Speaking after a morning of apparently terse negotiations in Brussels over the future of May’s “worst deal in history” Brexit agreement, the British Prime Minister admitted she’d had “robust discussions” with EU president Jean-Claude Juncker and that “further discussions” were possible.

The comments came at a heavily delayed press conference called after Theresa May ended a tumultuous week, seeing off a leadership challenge and leading a whistle-stop tour around European capitals seeking any movement whatsoever on her Brexit deal.

While the Prime Minister absolutely insists that her agreement with the EU is the only one possible and European leaders insist that no change to it is possible, members of the UK parliament seem certain to reject it as unacceptable.

Addressing this apparent Gordian knot of political intransigence, May repeated that “it is in the interests of the EU as well as the UK to get this over the line. A disorderly Brexit is good for no one”, and said she had been “crystal clear” in her talks with EU leaders over getting further assurances on the deal.

On what she’d got already, the Prime Minister said: “these assurances hold legal status and should be welcomed… the EU is very firmly committed to this course.”

Apparently contradicting EU leaders who were apparently happy to humiliate May by insisting this week absolutely no changes could be made, the Prime Minister said “there is still work to do in the coming days to improve this deal… it is in the overwhelming interest in all our people in EU and UK to get this done and as quickly as possible.”

May said of the Brexit deal, which is broadly portrayed by the government as the only acceptable way for Britain to leave the EU, that: “There is further work to be done… we can look at this issue of further clarification… we will be bringing a vote back to parliament before the 21st of January, and we will be working expeditiously in the coming days to get those assurances that I believe MPs need.”

Responding to questions, the Prime Minister took her first — as she almost always does — from the BBC. Political editor Laura Kuenssberg asked about footage that had emerged from the roundtable discussion Friday morning showing Jean-Claude Juncker gripping May’s arm as she spoke in apparent anger to him.

Explaining she’d had a “robust discussion” with the EU President, the Prime Minister said he’d assured her the comments in the media claiming he’d called her “Nebulous” were more general, and not a personal attack.

This story is developing

Oliver JJ Lane is the editor of Breitbart London — Follow him on Twitter and Facebook